Substitute for handkerchiefs



Sept, 29, 1936 a. ROET SUBSTITUTE FOR HANDKERCHIEFS Filed March '7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

I. ROET 2,055,559

Sept 29, 1936 Filed March '7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 7, 1935, Serial No. 9,827 In the Netherlands March 8, 1934 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a substitute for the handkerchief now universally used. It has for one of its objects to provide means whereby the drawbacks adhering to the use of the ordinary handkerchief are obviated in a particularly simple and efficient manner.

It is a wellknown fact that the useof handkerchiefs as receptacles for secretions of the nose and mouth and more especially the nasal mucus and the saliva of persons suffering from a cold or from other infectious diseases involves serious drawbacks. In the repeated use of a handkerchief it is inevitable that the hands of the user are soiled bythe saliva or mucus absorbed by the tissue and it is equally inevitable that in the case of acoldsome of theinasal mucus also adheres to the pocket in which the handkerchief is stowed away after use. Obviously the hands thus become the bearers of infectious germs and the pockets, on having once been infected, will in turn infect any fresh handkerchief so that the user is continuously reinfected and other persons coming in contact with him are exposed to the danger of infection also.

In view of these drawbacks it has frequently been suggested to replace the ordinary linen handkerchief by substitutes made from paper or some other absorbent and low-priced material, which can be thrown away after a single use. However, although such paper handkerchiefs have been available on the market for quite a number of years, they have not come into very extensive use and besides this they are not fit to do away with the danger of an infection of the hands of the user and of other persons.

The object is to remove these drawbacks and to provide for an entirely new handkerchief sys tem.

According to this invention I replace the handkerchief, no matter of what material it may be formed, consisting of a plane piece of more or less absorbent material, by a receptacle having the form of a folding bag or pouch, preferably provided with extensions covering the hands of the user. The new bag or pouch, on being unfolded, presents a fiat front portion acting as a shield protecting the fingers and an aperture leading into the interior of the bag-like receptacle, which then completely envelops the nose. Since the shield-like front portion can apply itself against the upper lip, and part of the face of the user, the nose is enclosed on all sides and the nostrils project beyond the bottom part of the shield and, on the nose being blown, will deposit the mucus in the bag without the face and hands of the user being soiled. When the implement has thus beenused, it can be folded after withdrawal and will safely enclose the infectious moisture deposited therein and can now be thrown away or better still stowed away in a suitable receptacle, which can preferably form part of a container in which a greater number of fresh implements of this kind can be carried along, the used up receptacles being thrown away or burnt in the evening. My invention also relates to containers of the kind here mentioned.

The receptacle according to this invention may be formed for instance by folding a piece of material, making a ply in each of the parts obtained by folding, cutting in these plies at some distance from both edges and then joining the plies along the portions between these cuts and the edges.

Moreover the parts of the plies between both cuts may be aiilxed to the wall of the receptacle.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof, an embodiment of a substitute for handkerchiefs according to this invention and of pocket containers suitable for use in carrying a number of such receptacles along are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective, purely diagrammatic view of a pouch embodying this invention and Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIIIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation and Fig. 4 a side view of a container holding a supply of fresh receptacles and being provided with folding bags for the reception of used ones.

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of a different kind of container in closed and open position, respectively.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and. 2 representing a bag or pouch according to the present invention made for instance of two or more superposed layers of soft water-absorbent tissue paper, the paper is folded in the way shown in Figures 1, 2*- and 2 and united along the vertical lines a, d, e and f and if desired, along the vertical lines I) and e. The middle portion of the web has plies ID at the left and right hand. The middle parts I form a pocket of triangular cross section, while the parts 2 adjoining the parts I serve as finger rests, the extensions 3 pro- 50 tecting the hand against contact with the moisture. The extensions 3 serve also for drying after blowing.

The plies ID are cut through some distance above their bottom edges at 'l and below their 55 top edges at 8, whereby an aperture is formed, which is flanked by flaps 9, which are formed from the plies. In the operative position of the pouch, i. e. when it is extended, as shown in Fig. 2 and 2 the parts 6 are drawn forward, while the parts I, which in the folded state had been applied against each other, are now spread to form bags at the top and at the bottom, between which bags is the pocket, into which the nose can project. The parts 6 extending below the cutting edge 1 protect the face below the nose and this edge guides the moisture issuing from the nostrils into the bottom of the bag formed by the bottom portions of parts I, 2 and 6.

The receptacle may also be used in inverted position. For the reception of phlegms and one coughing or sneezing it may be held before the mouth in transverse position.

After use the pouch is folded down by swinging the flaps 3 back onto the parts 2, I and applying the parts 2, 6 against each other.

The material from which this receptacle is made, may be paper or textile material and if desired, it may be impregnated with water proofing and/or water-absorbing substances. The water proofing materials used in the manufacture of this receptacle may comprise waxes, such as parafiin wax, ceresine and the like. Near the edges of the folded sheet the impregnating water proofing material is preferably omitted in order to allow joining of the different layers by means of a suitable indenting operation.

I may combine the pouches on the inside with disinfecting means, pharmaceutical substances and the like and with substances capable of absorbing the secretions.

In receptacles consisting of a number of layers or sheets preferably only one or more of the rearward webs are impregnated with waterproofing substances, whereas the front web or sheets are not waterproof, in order to maintain their moisture absorbing properties. These front sheets may be impregnated with pharmaceutical and if desired also with disinfecting substances. Optionally water proofing, pharmaceutical and disinfecting substances may be interposed between the various sheets.

The parts 6 and 9 of the receptacle which suffer most during use are reinforced, for example by impregnating. This may also be obtained simply by forming these parts from the plies IU of the material, so that they are stronger than the remaining material and whereby the advantage is obtained, that the receptacle may be made from relatively cheap material.

The receptacle of Figure 1 may be folded from one piece of material by doubling it, making in each of the parts so-obtained a ply 9, cutting these plies 9 at l and 8 and then joining the portions of the plies between these cuts and the edges, i. e. the parts 6 for instance by means of glue. Moreover the portions of the plies between both cuts may be afiixed to the wall 2 along the lines I) and c.

If the piece of material is rectangular, the finished receptacle will have the shape of an ordinary handkerchief.

I prefer storing a number of these receptacles in a holder, adapted to be carried along in the pocket, the receptacles being preferably superposed in the holder in such manner, that withdrawal of one receptacle will effect a change in the position of the receptacle next following, so that this latter may easily be withdrawn in turn.

In a preferred construction a holder such as intended for use in the storing of the receptacles comprises two shallow boxes ll, I2 with low upstanding walls (Fig. 4) which are fixed in juxtaposition on the rear side of a flat folding bag M which may be reinforced and stiffened by a piece of strong cardboard 13. In the two boxes ll, 12 a number of receptacles l5 are arranged in superposition, the contracting receptacles being interlaced in a well known manner so that upon the withdrawal of the uppermost receptacle the flap of the next one is uncovered and can easily be gripped. The used receptacles are stowed away in the bag I4.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another form of a holder for the receptacles, which is shaped as a folder I6 carrying two juxtaposed boxes ll, each filled with a packet of fresh receptacles l8. There are further fixed to the folder some folding bags IQ for the reception of used receptacles. These bags are preferably also treated with water-proofing and water absorbing material and may contain disinfectants. The folder is closed by means of an end flap 20.

Optionally a separate bag for use when coughing or sneezing may be present.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the claims afl'ixed to this specification no selection of any particular modification of the invention is intended to the exclusion of other modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim in the present application to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

I claim:

1. A device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, comprising a web of soft foldable material folded to form, when extended a bag, the central front portion of which is formed with an aperture for the insertion of the nose into said bag, the bottom portion of the middle part of said front portion, when extended, forming the front wall of said bag and covering the upper lip of the user.

2. A device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, comprising a web of soft foldable material folded to form, when extended, a bag, the central front portion of which is formed with an aperture for the insertion of the nose into said bag, the bottom portion of the middle part of said front portion, when extended, forming the front wall of said bag and covering the upper lip of the user, and a flap at each end of said middle part forming a protection for the hands of the user.

3. A device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, comprising a web of soft foldable material, folded to form, when extended, a bag, the central front portion of which is formed with two substantially parallel horizontal cuts and the part thus partly severed from the front portion being provided with an aperture for the insertion of the nose into said bag, the bottom portion of the middle part of said front portion, when extended, forming the front wall of said bag and covering the upper lip of the user.

4. The device of claim 3, in which the edge portion of the part below the aperture is reinforced.

5. The device of claim 1, being formed of a single sheet of thick permeable material, only the part adjoining the outer surface of which is water-proofed, while the part adjoining the inner surface is permeable.

6. A device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, made up of a piece of soft pliable sheet material folded to obtain a double sheet, each of the parts so obtained being provided with a ply, the plies being cut in at some distance from the edges and the portions of the plies between these cuts and the edges being joined.

'7. A device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, made up of a piece of soft pliable sheet material folded to obtain a double sheet, each of the parts so obtained being provided with a ply, the piles being cut in at some distance from the edges and the portions of the plies between these cuts and the edges being joined, the portions of the plies between the cuts being affixed to the Wall of the bag.

8. Method of making a device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, comprising folding a piece of material, making a ply in each of the parts so obtained cutting in these plies at some distance from the edges and joining the portions of the plies between these cuts and the edges.

9. Method of making a device adapted for use as a substitute for a handkerchief, comprising folding a piece of material, making a ply in each of the parts so obtained, cutting in these plies at some distance from the edges and joining the portions of the plies between these cuts and the edges, afiixing the portions of the plies between the cuts to the wall of the bag.

ISAAC ROET. 

